PM Modi addressing a gathering of warkaris after inaugurating a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir at dehu in Pune. (Photo: Twitter/@BJP4India)Pune News Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar sang abhangs (devotional poetry in praise of Lord Vitthal) of Sant Tukaram while in jail during India’s freedom struggle. He was addressing a gathering of warkaris (devotees undertaking pilgrimage to Lord Vitthal temple at Pandharpur), after inaugurating a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir dedicated to the 17th-century saint at Dehu near Pune. The PM will also inaugurate the Jal Bhushan Building and Gallery of Revolutionaries at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai later in the day.
“Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet, famously known for Abhanga devotional poetry and community-oriented worship through spiritual songs known as Kirtans. He lived in Dehu. A Shila Mandir was built after his demise, but it was not formally structured as a Temple. It has been rebuilt in stone masonry with 36 peaks, and also carries an idol of Sant Tukaram,” as per the official press release. Later, the PM will participate in the 200th-year celebration of the Gujarati daily Mumbai Samachar at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
In anticipation of the Prime Minister’s visit, the temple was closed to the public from Sunday, June 12, as per media reports. Heavy police and security presence too has been beefed up at the premises.
NCP MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister was not allowed to speak in presence of PM Narendra Modi at a temple inauguration event in Dehu, Pune, and termed it as an insult of the state.
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, spoke at the event but Ajit Pawar wasn't allowed to speak, she said.
“Ajit Pawar's office had requested (the PMO) that he be allowed to speak at the event as he is the Deputy CM and also the guardian minister of the district. The PMO did not approve it,” she told reporters in Amravati.
“This is very serious, painful, shocking and not justified. This is an insult to Maharashtra,” the Lok Sabha member said. “Whether to allow Fadnavis to speak is their personal matter but Ajit Pawar, being the Deputy CM, should have been allowed to speak at the Dehu event, Sule said. (PTI)
Following the inauguration of Saint Tukaram Maharaj Temple in Dehu, PM Modi in his address on Tuesday, said, "Saints taught us that discrimating between human beings is the biggest sin, and therefore, my government is running on the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas.."
Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, in a three-minute speech, referred to PM Modi as a true warkari and the pradhan sevak.
Speaking next, PM Modi said his government will spend Rs 11,000 crore on two palkhi margs of 350 km. He added that Sant Tukaram's abhangs are giving him 'urja' and showing him the right direction. The palkhi margs were announced in 2017-18. PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the work in November 2021.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his Twitter handle, shared a video of him greeting the welcome committee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his Twitter handle, shared a video of him greeting the welcome committee.
Nitin More, who heads the Dehu Sansthan, has honoured PM Modi with 'Tukaram pagdi' and a uparna or shawl.
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PM Modi arrived on stage amidst thunderous applause from the audience.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis are on stage, along with Nitin More, who heads the Dehu Sansthan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 'shila temple' at Pune.
While devotees remained glued to the screen at the venue of PM's address, Doordarshan fails to telecast the dedication ceremony of the 'shila temple" at the hands of PM Modi, reports our Pune correspondent Manoj More.
The anchor reads out the details of the temple dedication ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Pune. He was welcomed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town of Dehu in Pune district. Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, and that for centuries has been the starting point of Wari, the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
The Shila Mandir
The Bhakti saint Sant Tukaram had sat on this piece of rock for 13 continuous days when challenged about the authenticity of the Abhyangs he had written. Nitin Maharaj More, president of the Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan Dehu, said that prior to this, the saint had immersed his entire work in the Indrayani river; the work miraculously reappeared after 13 days, proving their authenticity. “The very rock where Sant Tukaram Maharaj sat for 13 days is pious and a place of pilgrimage for the Warkari sect,” More said. (Read more)
Ahead of PM's arrival in Dehu, there are massive traffic jams in the temple town and nearby areas. Most roads heading to Dehu are shut for traffic.
Later today, Prime Minister Modi is slated to inaugurate the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir. The temple will house a Shila or a rock that is revered by the Warkari sect as the starting point of the Dehu chapter of the annual pilgrimage, known as Wari that culminates in the temple town of Pandharpur. This year, the Wari is set to begin on June 20.
Minister of State V Muraleedharan has shared a video of PM Modi sharing his thoughts on the teachings of Tukaram Maharaj.
The inauguration of the temple is expected to take place at around 1.45 pm, as per media reports.
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on June 14 when he will inaugurate Saint Tukaram Maharaj Temple in Dehu, Pune.
Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet, famously known for Abhanga devotional poetry and community-oriented worship through spiritual songs known as kirtans. He lived in Dehu. The temple has been rebuilt in stone masonry with 36 peaks. (Read more)